Over 14,000 MW of hydro power capacity is under execution in the country and would be commissioned in the next four years, according to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). As many as 40 projects are under various stages of implementation in the country which will be commissioned by 2018, the CEA data showed.
The projects are being developed by the central and state governments and also by the private sector.
The central government is constructing projects with over 7,500 MW capacity which include five projects of NHPC and three of NTPC.
Country's largest hydro power producer NHPC is setting up 330 MW Kishanganga (Jammu & Kashmir), 800 MW Parbati II and 520 MW Parbati III (Himachal Pradesh), 160 MW Teesta Lower (Sikkim) and 2,000 MW Subansiri (Arunachal Pradesh).
Another state-owned firm NTPC, which is primarily engaged in thermal power generation, has also diversified into hydel generation and is executing three -- 800 MW Koldam (Himachal Pradesh), 520 MW Tapovan Vishnugad (Uttarakhand), 171 MW Lata Tapovan (Uttarakhand) -- projects.
NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited) is also building three hydel projects 600 MW Kameng and 110 MW Pare in Arunachal Pradesh and 60 MW Tuirial in Mizoram.
Over 2,000 MW hydel capacity is being added by the state power generation companies with Himachal Pradesh contributing a lion's share of 956 MW. Six hydel plants in the state are in various stages of execution and will be commissioned by 2018.
Private sector projects will contribute over 4,500 MW capacity from hydro power projects in the next four years.
As many as 18 hydel plants are being constructed by private players such as GMR, GVK, Lanco etc.
At present, hydro power contributes over 17 per cent or 39,788 MW to the country's total installed capacity of 2,28,722 MW.
